We get asked many questions on how to prepare a presentation like an expert – and so in order to do that – because there is no set golden rule book or standards to judge by – we figured it would be beneficial to point out and share what not to do to create a powerful, moving presentation that connects and conveys a great message to your audience.
Presentation Mistakes You Should Always Avoid
How to Have A Successful Presentation
Presentations are never easy and for most people speaking in front of a large group of people is beyond terrifying.
If you’re going to have to present something to a group of people, here is a list of mistakes you should avoid at all costs.
Things To Avoid
Filler Words
Think of words like “um”, “ah”, “so”, etc. These words are often used to stall before we think about what we are going to actually say next. As an audience, it’s blatantly obvious when someone is using filler words to stall and it’s a huge turnoff. It will pretty much make the rest of the presentation unbearable to listen to. Think about it – when is the last time you listened to someone who kept saying “um”?
Rambling
Put yourself in the audience’s shoes for a second. You’ve probably been at a presentation where the presenter has gone on and on about a concept. You know, they just won’t stop talking about something or how great it is. It’s like the greatest thing ever. They just won’t stop talking about it. Get the point?
Rambling normally occurs because of a lack of preparation and most people think they can just wing it. Very few people can actually go up on stage and present something with no plan. Take your time, plan out what you’re going to say in a few key concepts, and avoid rambling.
Pacing
A good presenter will make the crowd feel involved by moving around and addressing a specific side of the audience. Perhaps the presenter might even actually speak to an audience member or two individually. However, what expert presenters do not do is something called pacing.
Pacing often happens due to nerves and when you see someone walking back and forth at a brisk pace, it’s a huge turnoff. Avoid pacing but still move around as if it has purpose; not just to get rid of some nerves.
TMI (To Much Information)
Information overload happens so often at presentations. Never give away so much information so that audience simply has no idea what to do. Always leave your audience wanting more. That’s how you can sell them on something. Avoid giving your audience everything and keep your presentation brief and precise.
Apologizing
Most presenters either apologize for being inexperienced, for running out of time, or for a mistake. Don’t do it. If you run out of time, it’s your fault – get over it. Don’t apologize or your audience will feel robbed. If you’re inexperienced and let your audience know that, then there is a good chance they won’t take you seriously.
If you make a mistake, move on with the presentation. Remember, there’s a good chance your audience has no clue what you’re talking about. They didn’t know you made a mistake. Just move on and if someone addresses it later to you personally, then correct the mistake.
Forgetting to Close
When presenting something, you always want to leave your audience with a purpose. Maybe it’s buying a product, perhaps it’s an idea to think about. Whatever it is, make sure you direct them to your desired end goal throughout the close. Otherwise, people will be incredibly confused and feel like they just wasted their time. Plus, you’ll lose out on the potential repeat business once people realize your presentation was worthless to them.
You know there is more one way to properly and professionally conduct a valuable presentation, and we talk about the one we encountered in our network marketing experiences as well.
Now that you know what to avoid, you can start editing your presentations so that you avoid these – No No's – and when you do, your audience will be more engaged and supportive.
